A bill for a new police car that was secured last week for the Carbon County Sheriff's Department was approved for payment yesterday by the county commissioners, but the action created some negative reaction.

The commissioners authorized payment of the $11,865 bill from Warnock Ryan Fleet Department, Hanover, N.J., for the new car on a 2-1 vote. Commissioner Charles E. Wildoner cast the negative vote, while Commissioner Chairman Albert U. Koch and Commissioner Dean D.W. De Long approved payment of the bill.

Sheriff Peter P. Hoherchak informed the commissioners last week that he had placed an order for a 1985 eight-cylinder, four-door sedan police vehicle through a state purchasing agency and was going to New Jersey to pick it up.

In casting the "no" vote, Wildoner issued the following prepared statement:

"At last week's meeting, it was announced that Sheriff Hoherchak committed approximately $12,000 of taxpayers' money to purchase a new police car for his department. The sheriff did not seek prior public approval from the commissioners for this purchase, although he subsequently made that claim.

"The purchase by the sheriff did not come to my attention until we received a letter from him dated Sept. 3, 1985, informing us that he was going to pick up the car the following morning.

"This is the third time in the recent past that the sheriff made an unapproved and substantial purchase, only notifying the commissioners after the fact when we received his bill. Apart from the sheriff's office, we have not encountered this problem with the other county departments. When they need tomake a substantial purchase, they submit their proposal to the commissioners for approval, including budgeted items. The sheriff's unilateral decision to spend the taxpayers' money as he chooses creates a problem which I believe the board should rectify. Any department can spend money, but it is the commissioners who are responsible for raising the funds.

"There are several reasons why I do not believe that county departments should make sizable purchases without review and approval by the commissioners at a public meeting.

"First and foremost, the taxpayers who elected us have the right to expect that their money is spent in a fashion that will best serve them. In voting on purchases, the commissioners have the duty to consider whether the purchases will benefit the county as a whole, rather than fulfill the particular interests and specialized desires of a county department.

"Secondly, since the commissioners have to keep the broader concerns of the county in mind, we have the ability to make sure that the purchases, whenever possible, will be made from local businesses, supporting the local economy. If the competitive bidding process had been utilized, it is possible that the vehicle could have been purchased at a comparable price from a local car dealer who pays county taxes and employs county taxpayers.

"Finally, I believe that such purchases should be considered and approved at public meetings, where the county taxpayers have an opportunity to comment on the proposal and the media can report on it.

"I have a final word with regard to Sheriff Hoherchak's comment in a local newspaper that, 'If Charlie Wildoner was a full-time commissioner, he would know what's going on.' That word is that I do know what's going on, and I do not believe any county department, the sheriff'sor otherwise, should spend the taxpayers' money as it pleases, without regard to the purchasing procedures established over the past 14 years, which have resulted in the enviable fiscal integrity of this county."

Koch, in commenting on Wildoner's statement, said, "Charlie has the perfect right to read and say what he thinks is right, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I agree with everything he says.

"There are implications in the statement that we did something illegal, and if that is true, I would want it proved in court."

Joseph Velitsky, the county solicitor, in answer to a question from a reporter on whether the purchase was legal, said, "No purchase is legal until it is paid for, unless it was agreed to in advance. Similar things have been done in the past where something was purchased and then paid for by the commissioners."

Koch continued, "We provided money in the budget for the sheriff to purchase a vehicle, so I don't think he needed to enter the bidding process."

Commissioner DeLong remarked, "In my opinion, when the commissioners included $12,500 in this year's budget for a new vehicle for the sheriff, this constituted approval of a purchase."

Wildoner questioned, "How does a row office holder know there is money available when he wants to make a purchase unless he comes in and seeks permission? If this is the policy of the commissioners, then it is possible we could be borrowing money in the beginning of the year right after the budget is adopted."